Quick Links

Break down tenons, too Practice the two basic cuts It takes crosscuts and ripcuts to make a tenon. Practice them separately. Shoulder and cheek cuts are straight but big, and there’s a strategy for handling each one. Shoulder cuts are first. The cheeks follow. How to cut clean shoulders Shoulder cuts are tricky because aprons and rails can be several inches wide. It’s hard to track a straight cut across that distance. Make a track. After cutting your layout lines with a knife or marking gauge, use a chisel to create a V-groove along the shoulder line. You’ll get a clean shoulder that will keep the saw cutting straight down. Here’s the drill for shoulders. Use a saw hook and your off hand to keep the board still. To get used to cutting down to a horizontal line, mark the depth on both edges. Shoulder tracks the saw. Set the teeth in the V-groove, against the shoulder. Lower the blade until it rests in the groove across the board’s entire width before you begin to cut. Long cuts for cheeks. It’s important that the depth of your test cuts replicate what you’ll do for tenons, so they should be 11⁄2 in. to 2 in. deep. Practice following the steps on the facing page. 46 FINE WOODWORKING Let the saw do the work. There is no need to put any downward pressure on the saw. Its own weight is enough. The teeth will cut without any resistance or catching.